From Aristotle’s POETICS
from Aristotle’s POETICS
THE THREE UNITIES – Aristotle called for three essential elements to unify a tragedy
1. Time – one day (the actual plot enacted covers no more than a twenty-four hour period)
*previous events (exposition) my be referred to, but
are not actually performed in the play.
2. Place – one setting where the action is performed
*references can be made to other sites, but all of
the action of the play should be in one place.
3. Action— story should revolve around one primary plot
Aristotle’s Theory of Tragedy
pp.472 – Tragedy is “ …an imitation of an action that is serious,
complete, possessing magnitude; in embellished
language . . . in the mode of action and
not narrated; and effecting through pity
and fear, a catharsis”
The Tragic Hero
1. a noble hero or heroine – essentially of good character.
*neither a paragon of virtue nor completely wicked
2. tragic flaw or mistake
hamartia – an “error in judgment” ; a mistake
hubris-- the character flaw of PRIDE –a combination
of a the hero’s desire to achieve power or a goal with an arrogance, a haughtiness that compromises
reason and the warnings of the gods.
Tragic Structure of the Plot
1. “Reversal” or reversal of fortune -- the peripeteia (peripety)
2. “Recognition” – the anagnorisis (the “knowing”) moment – the
Change from ignorance to awareness
3. “Suffering” – the pathos -- the element of a destructive or painful act causing the viewer to sympathize or empathize with the hero.
4. Audience response of catharsis – the mixture of pity and fear, an emotional purging.
**************************************************************************
Oedipus the King
Oedipus at Colonus
Antigone
Oedipus – King of Thebes
Jocasta – Oedipus’ wife
Creon – Oedipus’ brother-in-law – brother of Jocasta
Laius – Former king of Thebes and husband of Jocasta, father of Oedipus
Antigone – Oedipus’ daughter
Ismene – Oedipus’ daughter
Eteocles – Oedipus’ son
Polyneices - Oedipus' son
Oedipus at Colonus – Play about Oedipus, after he is banished to Colonus.
Antigone – Play about the time after the Thebes’ war after both brothers have been killed in civil war. Creon declares that Eteocles will be honored and Polyneices disgraced and not buried properly. Antigone buries him and is imprisoned and kills herself.
Cadmus – Founder of Thebes whose sin against Apollo caused his descendants to be cursed. Cadmus killed the god’s favorite snake.
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.
Related searches
- aristotle s influence on christianity
- aristotle s syllogism
- aristotle s virtues
- aristotle s elements of drama
- aristotle s philosophy
- aristotle s 6 parts of tragedy
- aristotle s six elements of theatre
- aristotle s laws of thought
- aristotle s six elements
- aristotle s laws of logic
- aristotle s six elements of drama
- aristotle s virtue ethics for dummies